Apparatus for testing muscles



March 12, 1957 NEWMAN APPARATUS FOR TESTING MUSCLES Filed Aug. 21. 1953INVENTOR. ouls B. NEWMAN APPARATUS FOR TESTING MUSCLES Louis B. Newman,Chicago, Ill.

Application August 21, 1953, Serial No. 375,733

8 Claims. (Cl. 73-4179) This application is a continuation in part of mycopending application Serial No. 47,777, filedSeptember 4, 1948, nowPatent No. 2,680,967.

In my application, above-identified, there is shown a device formeasuring muscle strength. This device operates on the principle ofmeasuring the push exerted by the patient. It is one of the objects ofthe present invention to provide means for adapting the muscle tester ofthe type of my previous application for grip testing purposes. It is afurther object of the present invention to provide an adapter forenabling the use of a muscle tester, such as shown in theabove-identified application, to measure supination or pronation.

The adapter in this instance, briefly, includes a casing adapted toreceive the body of the aforesaid muscle strength testing device. Thecasing carries a finger gripping member having an aperture and anactuating member slidable therein. A palm-engaging member is connectedto one end of the actuating member and the opposite end of the member isadapted toapply force to the force-receiving contact member of themuscle strength testing device. Force exerted between the fingers andpalm move the palm-engaging end of said actuating member toward the saidfinger gripping member and the force is indicated on a gauge associatedwith the muscle strength testing device.

A shoulder is provided on the casing of the muscle strength testingdevice body to prevent relative movement between it and thehand-engaging attachment.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponmaking reference to the specification to follow and the drawingsillustrating exemplary embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the components making up the grip-testingapparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus, and partly broken away,of Fig. l in assembled condition;

Fig. 3 shows the hand grippable component of Fig. 1 mounted on a cradlesupport member for use in testing the degree of pronation and supinationin a persons arm; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the apparatus of Fig. 4 taken alongsection line 4-4 in the direction of the arrows.

In the various figures, the same reference numerals in- Y dicate thesame or similar elements throughout.

The grip-testing device of the invention illustrated in the drawingscomprises two basic components, namely a force-measuring device 2 and anattachment or adapter 3 therefor which is engageable by the hands of anopera tor.

The force-measuring device has an outer cylindrical casing 4 whichsurrounds a force indicating gauge (not shown) at the end 5 thereof.Projecting longitudinally from the opposite end of the force-measuringdevice 2 is nited States atent a longitudinally movable rod 10 having acylindrical discshaped contact member 12 on the end thereof. The rod 1%extends through an opening in a plate member 14 on one end of the casing4. The plate member 14 extends beyond the outer surface of the casing 4to form a transversely extending, annular shoulder 16. Within the casing4 is a force-measuring device (not shown), of any Well known suitableconstruction, which indicates the amount of force longitudinally appliedto the movable rod 10. Such a device is disclosed in said co-pendingapplication Serial No. 47,777.

The other component of the grip-testing device, namely the attachment oradapter 3, includes a hollow, openendecl, cylindrical casing or framemember 22 which is adapted to be telescoped or fitted aboutthecylindrical casing 4 of the measuring device 2.

An index mark 25 is provided for reasons to be explained.

When the casing 22 of the attachment 3 is fully telescoped over theforce-measuring device, it abuts the shoulder 16 on the casing 4 toprevent relative axial movement therebetween in one direction. In lieuof the shoulder 16, the casing 22 may be provided with a slight inwardlyextending curl at its lower end to act as a stop to limit the insertionof the casing 4 into the casing 22. Pivoted to the outside of the casing22 about pivot pins 23 which extend through aligned, transverse openingsin the casing 22 is a yoke member 24. The yoke member 24 is thuspivotable about an axis transversely to the axis of the casing 22, sothat the yoke 24 may be pivoted over one open end thereof. The yoke 24includes side members 26 and 28 which are connected at their outer endsby a cross-arm 3t). Extending transversely and in the center of thecross-arm 30 is a hollow, open-ended sleeve 32 having an aperturetherein, of square cross-section, which slidably receives the shank 40of a palm-engaging member, indicated generally by the reference numeral34. The axis of the aperture in the sleeve 32 is directed toward thecontact member 12 of the force-measuring device 2. The shank 40 of thepalm-engaging member 3 has a square cross section which is only slightlysmaller than the aperture in the sleeve 32. Connected to the outer endof the shank member 4b is a cross oar d2 which is rounded on its outerface to comfortably engage the palm of a hand. Threaded to the oppositeend of the shank 40 is a disc-shaped contact member 144 of similar shapeto the contact member 12 of the force-measuring device 2.

To assemble the grip-testing device, the yoke member 24 is pivoted toone side of the hollow, cylindrical casing 22, and the gauge end of thecasing 4' of the forcemeasuring device 2 is then placed within thehollow casing 22 of the attachment 3. The yoke member 24 is then pivotedinto a position such that the contact member 44 thereof abuts the end ofthe contact member 12 of the force-measuring device 2, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 2. Then the operator grasps the palm-engaging member 34and cross-arm it of the yoke member 24, and the operator then tightlygrips the device. In so doing, the longitudinally movable rod 10 appliesforce to the measuring apparatus within the casing 4 of the measuringdevice 2 and the force so applied is indicated on the face of the gaugeon the end 5 thereof. The shoulder 16 of the measuring device 2 abuttingthe end of the casing 22 of the attachment 3 prevents relative movementbetween the parts and enables the ready assembly and disassembly of thecomponents making up the grip testing device.

The attachment 3 may also be utilized in conjunction with a supportmember, to be described, to provide a device for measuring the degree towhich a person may actually rotate his lower arm both in pronation andsupination. To this end, the attachment 3 of the grip-testing devicejust discussed is associated with. a cradle support member, generallyindicated by the reference numeral 50 (see Figs. 4 and 5). The cradlesupport member 50 is made of a transparent plastic material and includesa horizontal base plate 52, upstanding side members 54 and 56, and acentral cradle or saddle member 58 having a concave upper surface of),the upper portion of which merges with the top of the side members 5'4and 56 respectively. The concave surface 66 conforms in shape to theoutside of the casing 22 of the attachment 3 and provides a seattherefor.

Extending inwardly at one end of the concave seat is a transparentflange portion 62, the inner face of which acts as a stop shoulder byabutting the end of the casing 22 of the attachment 3. Secured to theflange 62 is a transparent annular member 64 having suitable indexmarkings thereon for indicating the amount of rotation imparted to theattachment 3.

In operating the device, the attachment 3 is gripped in the same manneras previously described in connection with the grip-testing embodimentof the invention, and the apparatus is rotated on the cradle supportmember 50. The amount of pronation and supination is indicated by theamount of movement imparted to the adapter or attachment 3 as indicatedby the movement of the index mark 25 along the annular scale member 64.Since the flange d2 of the cradle support member and the scale member 64are both transparent, the index mark 25 is visible from the front of thecrade support member for all positions of rotation of the attachment 3The present invention thus provides a simple and efilcient adapter fortesting the strength of ones grip, and which may also be used to measuresupination and pronation.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made of thespecific and preferred embodiments of the invention above describedwithout deviating from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Grip-testing apparatus comprising the combination of :aforce-measuring device having an outer frame and a force-sensitive meansmovable therein which includes a force-receiving means accessible fromthe outside of said device and movable by a force to be measured in agiven direction, a pair of opposed members to be grasped between thefingers and palm of a hand, means for securing one of said members tosaid means for mounting said other member in a position opposite to andfor movement toward and away from said one member, said other memberhaving a part extending toward and engaging said force-receiving meansto move the same in said direction.

2. The combination comprising a force-measuring unit having a relativelymovable force-receiving contact means therein accessible from theoutside thereof and movable by a force to be measured in a givendirection, an attachment for converting said force-measuring unit to agrip-testing device including a frame releasably receiving saidforce-measuring unit, said frame carrying a first member to be graspedby the fingers of a hand and a second member to be engaged by the palmof a hand and located opposite said first member, means for fixedlysecuring one of said members to said frame, means for mounting saidother member in a position opposite to and for movement toward and awayfrom said one member, said other member having a part extending towardand engaging said contact means to move the same in said direction, andmeans for preventing movement of said frame relative to said measuringunit when force is applied between said first and second members.

3. A grip-testing apparatus comprising the combination of aforce-measuring device having a force-sensitive member including aforce-receiving means accessible from the outside thereof for receivinga force to be measured, a

finger-engaging member carried by said force-measuring device and havingan aperture therein having an axis directable toward saidforce-receiving means, means slidably supported in said aperture alongsaid axis thereof and including a palm-engaging member at one endthereof, the other end of said slidably supported means engaging saidforce-receiving means whereby the force exerted by a hand in moving saidpalm-engaging member toward said finger-engaging member is transmittedto said force-measuring device.

4. A grip-testing apparatus comprising the combination of aforce-measuring device having a movable forcesensitive member includinga force-receiving means accessible from the outside thereof forreceiving a force to be measured, an arm supported in spaced relationfrom said device, said arm having an aperture whose axis is directabletoward said force-receiving means, actuating means movable within andalong the axis of said aperture and having one end thereof adapted toengage and move said force-receiving means, and a transversely extendingmember on the other end of said actuating means, said arm and saidtransversely extending member being adapted to be grasped between thepalm and fingers of a hand.

5. A grip-testing apparatus comprising the combination of aforce-measuring unit having a force-receiving contact member thereinmovable relative thereto and accessible from the outside thereof forreceiving a force to be measured, a yoke carried by said force-measuringunit and having a cross-arm which is adapted to be grasped by thefingers of a hand, said "cross-arm having a transversely extendingaperture in the central portion thereof having an axis directable towardsaid contact member, a member movable withinand along the axis of saidaperture and having one end thereof being adapted to make contact withsaid contact member, and a palmengaging member on the other end of saidlast-mentioned movable member.

6. The combination comprising a force-measuring unit having a housingand a force-receiving contact member movable relative thereto and beingaccessible from one end thereof and movable by a force to be measured ina given direction, an attachment for converting said forcemeasuring unitto a grip-testing device including a hollow open-end frame memberconforming in shape to said housing and into the open end of which saidforcemeasuring unit is insertable, a yoke pivoted to said frame memberand swingable over one end thereof, said yoke having a cross-arm whichwhen the yoke is over said one housing and extends at an angle to saidgiven direction, a second member having a portion extending generallyparallel to said cross-arm and engageable with said contact member ofsaid measuring unit to move it in said given direction, means formounting said second member in a position opposite to and for movementtoward and away from said cross-arm along .a line transversely thereof,said cross-arm of said yoke and said second member being mountedopposite one another so as to be grasped between the palm and fingers ofa hand, and means for preventing movement of said housing of saidforce-measuring unit relative to said hollow open end frame member insaid given direction.

7. An attachment for a force-measuring unit having a housing and aforce-receiving contact member at one end thereof for receiving a forceto be measured, said attachment comprising a hollow frame member open atleast at one end thereof and being adapted to be slid into telescopicrelation with said housing with the open end thereof adjacent to saidone end thereof, a yoke pivoted to said frame member and swingable overthe said open end thereof, said yoke having an aperture, and anactuation member having a shank slidably supported in said aperture anda portion at the other end thereof extending transversely of said shank,the other end of said actuation member being adapted 'to apply force tosaid contact member, and said yoke and said transversely extendingportion being adapted to be grasped between the palm and fingers of ahand.

8. The combination comprising a force-measuring unit having a housingand a force-receiving contact member movable relative thereto and beingaccessible from one end thereof and movable by a force to be measured ina given direction, an attachment for converting said force-measuringunit to a grip-testing device including a hollow, open-end frame memberconforming in shape to said housing and into the open end of which saidforce-measuring unit is insertable, a yoke pivoted to said frame memberand swingable over one end thereof, said yoke having a cross-arm whichwhen the yoke is over said one end extends at right angles to said givendirection, a second member having a portion extending generally parallelto said cross arm, means for mounting the second member for movementtoward and from said cross-arm, said second member including meansprojecting therefrom and engageable with said contact member of saidmeasuring unit to move it in said given direction, said cross-arm ofsaid yoke and said second member being mounted opposite one another tobe grasped between the palm and fingers of a hand, and means forpreventing movement of said housing of said force-measuring unitrelative to said hollow, open-end frame member in said given direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS177,251 Johnson May 9, 1876 1,427,496 Ono Aug. 29, 1922 1,623,869Giraldi Apr. 5, 1927 2,535,787 Darby Dec. 26, 1950 2,645,025 WeinermanJuly 14, 1953

